A million dollar loan wasn’t worth scheduling on the regular agenda for the May 9, 2023, Lowndes County Commission Regular Session?
Apparently not, since Chairman Bill Slaughter added it after the previous morning’s Work Session. Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to know Continue reading
Big news: One Valdosta-Lowndes has hired an Executive Director, Mary Beth Brownlee, previously with ACCG. See 8. Reports.
Almost three minutes on 5.c. REZ-2023-06 Wild Adventures, 3766 Old Clyattville Road, P-D amendment was the longest at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday morning. They vote tonight at 5:30 PM.
In her 8. Reports, County Manager Paige Dukes said for the tire amnesty starting that day (yesterday), people could take tires to either the county or city locations. Ordinary vehicle tires, not for tractors or semi-trucks.
She said the tax assessment notices will go out mid-May. There will be some increases, since Continue reading
Update 2023-04-09: Packet: Wild Adventures glamping, AB Motorsports withdrawn, a road abandonment and RoW purchase, Clyattville Community Center, plus alcohol @ LCC 2023-05-08.
Not on the agenda for the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC), and not in the board packet materials Lowndes County sent in response to a LAKE open records request, instead showing up under Other Business, were some updates to the Unified Land Development Code (ULDC).
Former Lowndes County Planner Jason Davenport, rehired by the county as a consultant, said he gave the Planning Commission a list of a dozen ULDC amendments that would come before them next month for a recommendation. They included: Continue reading
Update 2023-05-09: Videos: Wild Adventures glamping, AB Motorsports withdrawn, a road abandonment and RoW purchase, Clyattville Community Center, plus alcohol @ LCC 2023-05-08.
Update 2023-05-09: Videos: ULDC Updates, AB Motorsports withdrawn, Wild Adventures glamping @ GLPC 2023-04-24.
A Wild Adventures rezoning for glamping will be at the Lowndes County Commission Work Session Monday morning at 8:30 AM and at the voting Regular Session Tuesdahy 5:30 PM. Plus a $50,000 road project to Wild Adventures’ front door is on the agenda.
![[Collage @ LCC Packet 2023-05-08]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-05-08--lcc-packet/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC Packet 2023-05-08
The AB Motorsports rezoning was “withdrawn by Continue reading
The rezoning request for AB Motorsports has been withdrawn by the applicant, and the rezoning is still live for the Wild Adventures Safari Campground, for RVs, cabins, and glamping, at the Greater Lowndes Planning Commission (GLPC) meeting tonight.
We know this because, a day late and a dollar short, Lowndes County late yesterday supplied most of the board packet.
![[Maps, rezonings @ GLPC 2023-04-24]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-04-24--glpc-packet/many.jpg)
Maps, rezonings @ GLPC 2023-04-24
Just after I posted the agenda and sent them email reminding that it had been four working days sent LAKE sent the open records request and that the Georgia Open Records Act (GORA) requires a response in three days, as their own County Clerk web page says: “Once a request is received, Lowndes County will notify the requesting party within 3 days regarding the availability of the information”; a few minutes later the county sent the agenda packet materials for the two rezonings.
But once again they did not satisfy this part of the request: “Including the minutes of the previous GLPC meeting (those are NOT on the lowndescounty.com website).”
Considering that the planners for Dasher, Lake Park, Hahira, and Valdosta responded the same day as the request (saying they had no items), I really do not see what is so difficult for Lowndes County to respond in a timely manner according to state law. They have to have the same materials already available for GLPC, so all they need to do is email a few PDFs.
Even better, why can’t Lowndes County put board packet materials on their own website, as many counties smaller and larger in Georgia and Florida have been doing for years? Why do you, the taxpayers and voters and other interested parties, have to depend on a third party to find out what an elected government is doing?
The materials thus far received from Lowndes County for tonight are on the LAKE website.
-jsq
Investigative reporting costs money, for open records requests, copying, web hosting, gasoline, and cameras, and with sufficient funds we can pay students to do further research. You can donate to LAKE today!
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/blog/donate
Nobody spoke for or against the one rezoning, 6.a. REZ-2023-02 Thomas Property, Madison Hwy, R-1 to R-A, ~10 acres, which passed unanimously. Everything else also passed unanimously.
![[Collage @ LCC 14 February 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-02-14--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 14 February 2023
There was one Citizen Wishing To Be Heard, but it never became clear what Karen Carlisle was talking about, nor who “we” was on behalf of which she was asking.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item, with a few notes by Gretchen Quarterman, followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also Continue reading
Update 2023-03-13: Firefighters grant, Madison Highway rezoning, Webster Street purchase, Wild Adventures expansion, Peterson Road Sewer Main Open Cut @ LCC Regular 2023-02-14.
Wild Adventures wants to make a 50 space short term RV park on their property. Their General Manager Jon Vigue gave a slide presentation.
![[Collage @ LCC 13 February 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-02-13--lcc-videos/many.jpg)
Collage @ LCC 13 February 2023
Commissioner Scottie Orenstien wanted to know did they own the land: yes. Would they connect to county water and sewer? yes. Lowndes County Utilities Director affirmed that the county already has the necessary infrastructure for them to connect to.
Commissioner Demarcus Marshall wanted to be sure Continue reading
The highest-dollar item is a sewer main remodel, on a relatively light agenda for the Lowndes County Commission Work Session this morning and voting Regular Session tomorrow evening.
| Cost | What |
|---|---|
| $40,237.50 | Peterson Road Sewer Main Open Cut |
| $25,000.00 | Purchase of 215 Webster Street Property |
| $4,509.09 | Assistance to Firefighters Grant Micro Grant for SCBA Air Cylinders |
| $69,746.59 | Total |
Here is the agenda.
The board packet, received in response to a LAKE open records request, is on the LAKE website.
For the rezoning, see also the preceding Planning Commission meeting.
LOWNDES COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Continue reading
PROPOSED AGENDA
WORK SESSION, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023, 8:30 a.m.
REGULAR SESSION, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2023, 5:30 p.m.
327 N. Ashley Street – 2nd Floor
Update 2022-08-25: Alapaha Plantation nanofiltration water system failed after a year @ LCC Regular 2022-07-26.
Lowndes County apparently forgot to turn on the audio feed to the media corral in the back of the room during their August 10, 2021, Regular Session. Gretchen noticed during the 811 Day Proclamation and switched to the camera’s microphone, which was better than no audio. They did turn the audio feed back on during the approval of the Minutes.
The Lowndes County Commission has not videoed their own meetings for about a year now, despite authorizing $110,147.78 for Commission Chambers Audio and Visual Upgrade back in April with a report in July of expected total delivery in August. Meanwhile, the City of Valdosta livestreamed all their meetings during the pandemic with an iPhone.
The longest item by far at twelve minutes was 7.b. REZ-2021-12 US 84/I-75 Industrial Park – PD amendment for solar. After Attorney Jack Langdale spoke for, Gretchen Quarterman also spoke for.
Second was 10. Reports – County Manager, which includes some discussion about rural broadband funding.
Plus five Citizens Wishing to Be Heard, two about impassible private dirt roads, two others about drainage problems, and Brad Folsom: citizens request for more transparency.
It didn’t take a crystal ball to predict (as I did) that Wild Adventures Jon Vigue would be appointed to the Valdosta Lowndes Tourism Authority, since the last two appointees were also Wild Adventures GM.
Commissioners approved the 8.b. Alapaha Plantation Water Treatment Pilot Study, but there are murmurings that they are not going to do any subdivision water systems more like that.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item with a few notes,
followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also the
LAKE videos of the preceding Monday morning Work Session,
the
agenda and
the preceding Planning Commission meeting.
The board packet, received after a LAKE open records request,
is on the LAKE website:
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2021-08-09–lcc-packet
The longest item at fourteen and a half minutes was yet more public money to be spent on water for the private Lake Alapaha subdivision next to the Alapaha River, in the Lowndes County Commission Work Session yesterday, Monday morning, August 9, 2021. They vote 5:30 PM this evening, Tuesday evening, August 10. See also The never-ending Lake Alapaha Water Treatment Plant saga @ LCC 2021-08-10.
The three rezonings also got 4, 5, and 7 minutes.
It’s an even safer bet they will appoint Wild Adventures General Manager Jonathan Vigue to the Tourism Authority.
Below are links to each LAKE video of each agenda item,
followed by a LAKE video playlist.
See also
the agenda and
the preceding Planning Commission meeting.
The board packet, received after a LAKE open records request,
is on the LAKE website:
http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2021-08-09–lcc-packet
![[Hightower Road, Wild Adventures, Briggston Road, $1 million housing loan, @ LCC Regular Session, 9 May 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-05-09--lcc-regular-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 8 May 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/loco/2023-05-08--lcc-work-videos/many.jpg)
![[Collage @ LCC 24 April 2023]](http://www.l-a-k-e.org/govt/glpc/2023-04-24--glpc-videos/many.jpg)